INDIANAPOLIS (Ticker) -- Rik Smits made a career-high 15 free
throws, but the one he missed cost the Indiana Pacers the game.

Smits went 15-of-16 from the foul line and scored a season-high
35 points. But he made just 1-of-2 from the stripe with 5.1
seconds left, setting up Lindsay Hunter's desperation 3-pointer
at the buzzer that gave the Detroit Pistons an improbable
102-101 victory over the first-place Pacers in a Central
Division battle.

"I really don't feel good about missing one of those free throws
at the end," Smits said. "We could not put them away. We let
them hang around and when a team hangs around, they have a
chance to win."

Grant Hill scored 30 points and Joe Dumars added 25 for the
Pistons, who trailed 100-96 before Jud Buechler came off the
bench and drained a 3-pointer with 6.2 seconds to play.

"We just kept our composure in the fourth quarter," said Hill.
"It was a big game to come back in. Luckily, the ball bounced
our way."

The Pacers, who called several timeouts before finally
inbounding the ball, watched Smits go to the line with a chance
to increase the lead to three. But the 80 percent foul shooter
missed his first of the night before sinking the second to make
it 101-99.

Hill received the inbounds pass and made a mad dash up the right
sideline before throwing a cross-court pass to Hunter, who
released a high, arching leaner that banked in as time expired.

"Smits missing that last free throw was the break we needed,"
Hunter said. "I'm just glad we won. Indiana is a great team.
Our last play was already set up. We played great defense on
inbounds plays (during the end of the game). I felt fortunate
to hit that last shot."

Hunter, who scored 17 points, made the last of Detroit's 11
3-pointers, helping the Pistons pull into second place in the
Central, two games behind Indiana.

"These are two quality teams that are playoff quality," Hill
added. "We just have 14 games left and they are all important.
But tonight was some great basketball."

Reggie Miller and Jalen Rose collected 14 points each for the
Pacers, who had a four-game winning streak snapped and fell to
1-2 against the Pistons this season. Each of Indiana's last
five losses have been by one point.

"They had 5.1 seconds left and I guess we broke down," said
Pacers coach Larry Bird. "(Lindsay Hunter) was left wide-open.
I think some of these players were concerned with Grant Hill,
but we had the lead and we have to cover the open man."

Detroit has won eight of its last 10 games and evened its road
record at 8-8.

"Just another routine win," joked Pistons coach Alvin Gentry.
"Our guys did a great job of staying in the game. A win is a
win. It gives us another win in the division against a quality
team."

Buechler and Loy Vaught each collected nine points off the bench
for the Pistons, who shot 53 percent (39-of-73), including
11-of-19 from beyond the arc.

Detroit scored 23 points off 16 Indiana turnovers.

Mark Jackson handed out 12 assists and Dale Davis added 11
points for the Pacers, who shot 51 percent (34-of-67) but were
only 3-of-10 from long range.

"This was a tough loss," said Jackson. "We must win these
games. They are big from now until the end of the season. We
must do our balancing act -- offense, defense and effort for the
rest of the way."

Rose hit a 12-footer with 3:21 to play to give the Pacers a
90-88 lead. Hill tied it with a pair from the line before Smits
slammed and made two free throws to give Indiana a 94-90 edge
with 1:36 left.

Bison Dele and Miller traded baskets and Hill sank a 17-footer
to cut the deficit to 96-94 with 45 seconds remaining.

Smits made two more free throws but Hill answered with a
16-footer form the left sideline with 15 seconds to go. Rose
hit two from the line with 13.4 left before the Pistons staged
their winning rally.